How to Practice Jiu-Jitsu at Home

Jiu-Jitsu is the Brazilian adaptation of the Japanese martial art form Jujutsu. Find out tips and tricks to practice Jiu-Jitsu at home and improve your technique as you read on...

Mrunal Belvalkar

Last Updated: Dec 09, 2017

Jiu-Jitsu came into existence some time around the 20th century. The Brazilian people adapted the Japanese martial art form Jujutsu and Americanized it; this Americanized form is called Jiu-Jitsu. The best part of Jiu-Jitsu is that it allows even a 100 pound person to defend himself or herself against any person or persons. Jiu-Jitsu is not about strength - or let's say it is not only or mainly about strength; Jiu-Jitsu is a technique, an art. Even a seemingly supple and slender individual can choke you to death if he/she has learned and perfected this martial art. You watch a combat or championship, and you begin to believe that it takes mind over might to win.

Jiu-Jitsu is based more on using leverage, joint-locks and choke holds. Now there is no way you can practice joint-locks or choke holds on your own! So the question remains - how to practice Jiu-Jitsu at home? Well, it's not so difficult. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you practice and perfect Jiu-Jitsu.

Where to Practice Jiu-Jitsu at Home?

You need to have ample floor space to practice any martial art form, including Jiu-Jitsu properly. It would be best to practice it in open air - in a garden, or a garden patio, canopy or gazebo. You can even practice Jiu-Jitsu in the garage if you have enough of free space. This is necessary in the initial stages - till you perfect your technique. If you are learning Jiu-Jitsu as a combat sport, you will be given ample space in the championship as well. But if you plan to learn Jiu-Jitsu more as a form of personal defense then remember that even if you practice in a spacious place, you may have to use your technique to defend yourself in a confined space as well, or when you are cornered. I do not mean to scare you, but it is better to be prepared, right? So make sure you perfect your technique.

Practicing Jiu-Jitsu at Home

Learn RightThe first and foremost step to perfecting the art of Jiu-Jitsu is to learn the technique right. This means paying full, undivided attention during the training sessions. Absorb the technique, and understand the logic and science behind it. Studying the human anatomy will also help you learn about the weak points in the body and how you can use these to your advantage. Take your classes seriously.

Pair UpLike I said before, it is difficult to practice Jiu-Jitsu on your own. While practicing Jiu-Jitsu at home, make sure you pair up with someone who knows Jiu-Jitsu. It would be a good learning experience if you can pair with someone who is more experienced in the art than you. Their experience would have taught them a lot more about combat than what you learn in a class. However, you can even pair up with your Jiu-Jitsu buddies so that you can learn and practice together.

Switch PartnersMost martial art forms also try to train the student to read the opponents body language so that you can predict his/her moves and act on them. This is why practicing with the same person for a very long time can limit your skills as a Jiu-Jitsu student. Make sure you switch your partner once in a while. Even if four of you decide to practice together, each will get a chance to practice with three different partners. Good enough.

Mirror Mirror on the WallIt would be perfect if you could practice in a room with mirrors. This is so because you can observe how different parts of your body move, how they work together to give you a strong and perfect choke hold or joint-lock. Studying this will help you perfect your technique, which will go on to improve your Jiu-Jitsu. You can get a huge top to bottom mirror fixed on one of the garage walls. It will be perfect.

Make it ComplexIf your only motivation to learn Jiu-Jitsu is self-defense, you are going to be tested for your technique in tricky situations! So why not be prepared? Challenge yourself and your combat partner by making things slightly complex - defending yourself when cornered, when the opponent is armed, etc. Stretch the limits and take your skill to new levels.

A Word of Caution

Do not get over ambitious with your practice. Make sure you rest enough between practice sessions, eat the right kind of food, drink enough water, and do not tire or wear yourself out. Consult your trainer about what kind of diet you should follow, what your sleeping hours should be, if there are any food products you should avoid, etc. Consult a physician as well. In case you start to feel any kind of pain, do not push the limits or try to be brave and overlook it - tend to it immediately. Play it safe.

Weren't those some easy steps to practice Jiu-Jitsu at home? Hope you become a skilled Jiu-Jitsu practitioner! All the best!